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© May 2007 Gretchen Alawneh All rights reserved.
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I am by no means an expert on stainbusting, but I am an avid reader and a bit of an information packrat. I have collected this information from friends, family, magazines, the internet and miscellaneous areas. I'd be lying if I told you I remember were all the advice came from. So, I'm just going to offer up one big Thank You to everyone who doled it out, and pass my tips onto you. Below are the clothing stain stainbusters. Hope they help you when you most need them.
Stain Busters
An overview of what works where:
Absorbants - Things like talc powder and cornstarch. Sprinkle these on fresh grease stains, what 15-20 minutes, then scrape off and treat the stain.
Bleaches - NOT talking chlorine bleach here. That is always a last resort. I'm talking mild bleaches like lemon juice and white vinegar. Mix with equal parts of water and use to remove color left by stains.
Use a cotton swab to dab onto it and place a plain white paper towel under the fabric.
Denatured Alcohol - This is effective at breaking down some stains and it will evaporate without leaving any mark behind.
Detergent - A mild, clear liquid dishwashing soap is a pretty good all around cleaner. Put it on straight, wait about 5 minutes, then rinse with water, or if it's a small spot, dab with fresh water.
Glycerin - (Found in most drug stores and Walmart) Very good at getting out ballpoint ink. DAB, don't smear.
Mineral Spirits - Use on greasy areas like tar. Air out clothes afterwards.
Brand name cleaners -
Things like Shout and Spray 'n Wash are pretty good all-purpose removers for greasy stains.
Things like Biz and Wisk are good on items like grass and blood because they contain enzymes. DO NOT use on wool or silk though.
Absorbants - Things like talc powder and cornstarch. Sprinkle these on fresh grease stains, what 15-20 minutes, then scrape off and treat the stain.
Bleaches - NOT talking chlorine bleach here. That is always a last resort. I'm talking mild bleaches like lemon juice and white vinegar. Mix with equal parts of water and use to remove color left by stains.
Use a cotton swab to dab onto it and place a plain white paper towel under the fabric.
Denatured Alcohol - This is effective at breaking down some stains and it will evaporate without leaving any mark behind.
Detergent - A mild, clear liquid dishwashing soap is a pretty good all around cleaner. Put it on straight, wait about 5 minutes, then rinse with water, or if it's a small spot, dab with fresh water.
Glycerin - (Found in most drug stores and Walmart) Very good at getting out ballpoint ink. DAB, don't smear.
Mineral Spirits - Use on greasy areas like tar. Air out clothes afterwards.
Brand name cleaners -
Things like Shout and Spray 'n Wash are pretty good all-purpose removers for greasy stains.
Things like Biz and Wisk are good on items like grass and blood because they contain enzymes. DO NOT use on wool or silk though.
CLOTHING STAINS
(W) Washable (NW) Nonwashable
(W) Washable (NW) Nonwashable
Cleaner Overview
FRUIT JUICE
A mom's nightmare!
1st-soak in cold water (helps break down the red dyes)
2nd-spray on a bit of prewash
3rd-wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric
A mom's nightmare!
1st-soak in cold water (helps break down the red dyes)
2nd-spray on a bit of prewash
3rd-wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric
-Always blot the stain, never rub. It will only smear it.
-Take care of the stain on washables as soon as possible.
-Work the stain from the outside towards the inside, so it doesn't spread.
-ALWAYS TEST A SMALL AREA FIRST WHERE IT WON'T SHOW.
-If it's nonwashable, take it to a professional drycleaners.
-Take care of the stain on washables as soon as possible.
-Work the stain from the outside towards the inside, so it doesn't spread.
-ALWAYS TEST A SMALL AREA FIRST WHERE IT WON'T SHOW.
-If it's nonwashable, take it to a professional drycleaners.
Common Sense Tips
BALLPOINT INK
W - Rub glycerin into the area and wait for 15-20 minutes. Wash it with a mild dishsoap. Another option is to spray it with hairspray and rinse with water.
NW - Same procedure as above but do not use alot of soap and water. Dab it with cool water and let it dry flat.
CHOCOLATE
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash and follow-up with Biz or Wisk, if needed.
NW - Use a drycleaning fluid for grease. Dab with white vinegar if necessary to remove color. Dab with cool water and dry flat.
COFFEE
W - Using an eyedropper, rinse with white vinegar to get rid of the color. Rinse with water to remove the sugar. Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash afterwards if the coffee had milk in it.
NW - Dab it with white vinegar to get rid of the color. Same procedure as above for milk and sugar.
FELT-TIP PEN
W - Rinse with denatured alcohol using an eyedropper. Wash it with a mild dishsoap.
NW - Rub glycerin into the area and let it stand for 15-20 minutes. Then use alcohol. Dab with cool water and lay flat to dry.
GREASE
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash. Afterwards, use mineral spirits, if necessary.
NW - Use a drycleaning fluid, then dab with cool water and lay flat to dry.
GUM OR WAX
W - Place ice on it to freeze the gum or wax or place the entire item into the freezer. When frozen scrape or crack off as much as possible. To get rid of any left over residue, use Mineral Spirits, Shout or Spray 'n Wash.
NW - Same as above.
LIPSTICK
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash to remove the grease. Then, with an eyedropper, rinse with white vinegar to get rid of the color.
NW - Use Drycleaning fluid to get rid of the grease. Dab with white vinegar to get rid of the color, dab with cool water to rinse, then lay flat to dry.
MUD
W - Scrape off the excess if still wet or shake off as much as possible if dry. If there is a large area, presoak in a bucket of warm water and laundry soap for about a half hour. If there is a small section, use Shout or Spray 'n Wash. Then, use white vinegar or peroxide, if necessary, to remove the color.
NW - Shake or scrape off the excess. Use very little mild dishsoap along with water. Dab with cool water to rinse and lay flat to dry.
MUSTARD
W - Rinse with an ammonia solution then wash it with a mild dishsoap.
NW - Try dabbing with white vinegar, but you will probably need to take it to a drycleaner
PROTEINS (blood, egg, grass)
W - Soak first in cold saltwater. Use Biz or Wisk. If necessary, use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to remove the color.
NW - Use a mild dishsoap, dab with cool water and blot out excess moisture and lay flat to dry.
RED WINE
W - Rinse with water and wash as you normally would.
NW - Use denatured alcohol. Dab with white vinegar to remove any remaining color. Dab with cool water and lay flat to dry.
SAUCES
W - Scoop off the excess then use Shout or Spray 'n Wash for the grease. Afterwards, use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar for the color.
NW - Scoop of the excess and use a drycleaning fluid for the grease. Dab with white vinegar for the color, if necessary. Dab with cool water to rinse and lay flat to dry.
SOY SAUCE
W - Use water and a mild dishsoap to wash, then use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar for the color.
NW - Use VERY LITTLE water and dishsoap, then dab with white vinegar for remaining color. Dab with cool water to rinse and lay flat to dry.
WHITE WINE
W - Rinse with water and wash as you normally would.
NW - Dab with cool water and dry flat. Be sure to point out the spot to your drycleaner the next time you take the garment in, even if it isn't noticeable, because any sugar left on the spot could carmelize during the drycleaning process.
VINAIGRETTE
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash for the grease, then use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar for the color.
NW - Use an drycleaning fluid for hte grease, then dab with white vinegar for the color. Dab with cool water to rinse and let dry flat.
W - Rub glycerin into the area and wait for 15-20 minutes. Wash it with a mild dishsoap. Another option is to spray it with hairspray and rinse with water.
NW - Same procedure as above but do not use alot of soap and water. Dab it with cool water and let it dry flat.
CHOCOLATE
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash and follow-up with Biz or Wisk, if needed.
NW - Use a drycleaning fluid for grease. Dab with white vinegar if necessary to remove color. Dab with cool water and dry flat.
COFFEE
W - Using an eyedropper, rinse with white vinegar to get rid of the color. Rinse with water to remove the sugar. Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash afterwards if the coffee had milk in it.
NW - Dab it with white vinegar to get rid of the color. Same procedure as above for milk and sugar.
FELT-TIP PEN
W - Rinse with denatured alcohol using an eyedropper. Wash it with a mild dishsoap.
NW - Rub glycerin into the area and let it stand for 15-20 minutes. Then use alcohol. Dab with cool water and lay flat to dry.
GREASE
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash. Afterwards, use mineral spirits, if necessary.
NW - Use a drycleaning fluid, then dab with cool water and lay flat to dry.
GUM OR WAX
W - Place ice on it to freeze the gum or wax or place the entire item into the freezer. When frozen scrape or crack off as much as possible. To get rid of any left over residue, use Mineral Spirits, Shout or Spray 'n Wash.
NW - Same as above.
LIPSTICK
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash to remove the grease. Then, with an eyedropper, rinse with white vinegar to get rid of the color.
NW - Use Drycleaning fluid to get rid of the grease. Dab with white vinegar to get rid of the color, dab with cool water to rinse, then lay flat to dry.
MUD
W - Scrape off the excess if still wet or shake off as much as possible if dry. If there is a large area, presoak in a bucket of warm water and laundry soap for about a half hour. If there is a small section, use Shout or Spray 'n Wash. Then, use white vinegar or peroxide, if necessary, to remove the color.
NW - Shake or scrape off the excess. Use very little mild dishsoap along with water. Dab with cool water to rinse and lay flat to dry.
MUSTARD
W - Rinse with an ammonia solution then wash it with a mild dishsoap.
NW - Try dabbing with white vinegar, but you will probably need to take it to a drycleaner
PROTEINS (blood, egg, grass)
W - Soak first in cold saltwater. Use Biz or Wisk. If necessary, use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to remove the color.
NW - Use a mild dishsoap, dab with cool water and blot out excess moisture and lay flat to dry.
RED WINE
W - Rinse with water and wash as you normally would.
NW - Use denatured alcohol. Dab with white vinegar to remove any remaining color. Dab with cool water and lay flat to dry.
SAUCES
W - Scoop off the excess then use Shout or Spray 'n Wash for the grease. Afterwards, use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar for the color.
NW - Scoop of the excess and use a drycleaning fluid for the grease. Dab with white vinegar for the color, if necessary. Dab with cool water to rinse and lay flat to dry.
SOY SAUCE
W - Use water and a mild dishsoap to wash, then use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar for the color.
NW - Use VERY LITTLE water and dishsoap, then dab with white vinegar for remaining color. Dab with cool water to rinse and lay flat to dry.
WHITE WINE
W - Rinse with water and wash as you normally would.
NW - Dab with cool water and dry flat. Be sure to point out the spot to your drycleaner the next time you take the garment in, even if it isn't noticeable, because any sugar left on the spot could carmelize during the drycleaning process.
VINAIGRETTE
W - Use Shout or Spray 'n Wash for the grease, then use an eyedropper to rinse with white vinegar for the color.
NW - Use an drycleaning fluid for hte grease, then dab with white vinegar for the color. Dab with cool water to rinse and let dry flat.
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